4 days till the other side!

[AlaskanTKR]

Hi - First - I missed reading all your exciting posts. We thought we would have better computer connections than we had once we left Alaska. Oh well. I would like to thank you all for the wonderful advice about travelling with cruddy knees. Not only was it helpful for me but also for my dad. Ziplock bags are my new best friends! I highly recommend a vacation b4 surgery! Definitely made the time pass. Unfortunately "cruising" is tough on the waistline. Ughhh - all we seemed to do was eat! The running joke was that after I get home I had better plan to be upstairs - far away from the fridge! Enjoyed the time with all my family! They were here for the past 2 days and I did way too much driving and am paying the price. Tomorrow is my preop - and we have an added stop. today I got a call from a nice lady from someplace up here called MED AK - seems the OS works through them and theya re setting me up with a CPM machine for home. SHe is going to show me the ropes tomorrow and then we take it home! So - 1 pm with her, 2 pm with the OS and 3 pm with the hospital. UGHHH - A bit busy - oh and the dog has his annual at 8AM. I think I am getting nervous - but I don't really have time too. All I know is I can't wait to get this over and move on with my life. It was a bit sad to see my Dad and I together - We decided that my right knee is worse than his and he is 80!

Still trying to keep up with all the threads since I was gone! Congrats to all those who crossed over this past week!

Marianne

 

[Josephine]

Well, you sound like you had a good time. I'll be thinking of you when you go 'over the top'!

 

[carolinagirl]

Marianne, Glad to hear you had a wonderful time with your family.
Good luck on your surgery. See you on the AFTER forum board!!!
My prayers are with you.

 

[JenniferG]

Ah, there you are. glad you had a good vaca and are on the count down. Pretty soon all you'll have to do is heal.

 

[1jt@atime]

Glad to hear you had nice vacation with the family. I know it's definitely nesting time for you. Always so much to get done before this kind of surgery. Oh, and don't worry about the added vacay weight gain. Generally, people lose a few pounds from the surgery recovery. You'll be back to your old weight or maybe even a little less in no time. We'll all be here thinkng about you on Monday. Karen

 

[JudyS]

Marianne,

You are in my thoughts and prayers. I will be thinking about you monday for sure.
Take your pain pills every 4hours!!!
Today is going to be so busy for you it will fly by.
You will do great!!!
Judy

 

[AlaskanTKR]

You guys are the best! Thanks for all your encouragement. It means sooooo much. Managed to get the dog in and out of the vet with no problem - it was like he knew he better be good today! Now all I have to do is motivate the other half and my kiddo to get ready to go into town. Need to leave about 1 1/4 hours b4 the apt - weather in fog and rain up here and we have an hour drive into town. Lucky them - they get to go to a movie while I do all these appointments. My other half and I are taking in a movie together on Sunday pm after we drop my kiddo off at my sister-in-law's. That way she doesn't have to come with us on Monday am!

Again! Thanks for all the support!
Marianne

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Ok - So I did the whole preop day thing. First we stopped at a place they sent me to (they called me Thursday AM) to get a CPM machine for the house. SHe measured me and viola - a CPM machine apeared. She fit, set up and instructed us on how to use it. The OS' orders stated that I am to use it for 2-4 weeks after returning home. Cool - out in the trunk and off we go. Dropped the hubby and kiddo off at the movie and then over to the OS. Early - neat - got in - filled out some paperwork with his nurse, he came in we chatted he went to look at the last set of xrays - ughhhh they are missing. He had xrays from 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 but no 6/2008. Oh boy he was ticked - calm but you could read it in his face. Off for more xrays (no charge to insurance) He stood there and waited for them to pop up. He was not happy with the situation. Anyway - a bit more chat - sign the rest of the papers and off I go. He asked if I had questions - I asked the few I had - he dropped the bomb that I wouldn't be released till Friday - Partially due to the fact I am not close to town and he doesn't necessarily want me to be too far from his stomping grounds if there is a porblem. He warned me that he will be gone next Thursday and Friday so one of the other docs (one I already know) will release me on Friday - most likely not before. I trust this guy sooo much. He was kinda funny when he asked me what I thought about how this will play out. I responded - It will stink for the first 4-8 weeks and then it will be awesome! He laughed - agreed and then said - Next week you can expect to sleep through most of Monday - Tuesday and Wednesday will suck (yes - his words) Then Thursday and Friday will be better. So.. finished up with them and then off to admitting. I have a file with them from previous experiences so things went fast. All the major instructions and more vials of blood. Yikes! All in all things went very well now all I have to do is make it through this weekend. UGHHHH. Good news is I was bumped to the 7:30 surgery slot - so I am first in!

Enjoy the weekend and thanks for all your encouragement!
Marianne

 

[Josephine]

First is good - no residual detritis in the OR and fresh staff! To be recommended.

 

[JudyS]

Wow Marianne,
That was a lot to do in one day. I hope you have a more fun weekend planned.
Glad your OS was honest with you. Mine was too. Also glad he is thinking about the distance thing. I have mixed feelings about staying in the hospital at this point, but when I knew I was there for 5 days after surgery , I was glad.
How is your daughter about all of this?

Glad you got bumped up to first. No time in the am to think too much about it all !! When I scheduled mine, I was going to change the day if I was #4!! I'm glad my doc does many, but I did not want to be the last of the day!!!

Try to be calm now!!!
Judy

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Josephine - my thoughts too - always best to go first - hopefully everyone will be awake
Judy - I am bummed about the 5 days but my husband is falling to pieces. After 13 years of marriage I know when he is "funky" and boy is he funky right now. It started after he picked up the CPM with me. He is already asking if he should take more time off. Then he just gets super quiet and looks at me all weird and stuff. UGHHHHH. I take care of everything around here and I think he is mortified that somehting bad might happen. Then who would take care of him. Pretty funny eh? Its just a knee - no problems - be back at work in 4 weeks as planned. In a way its strange - he shows his love all the time, but when its like this I think I really do mean the world to him. My little one seems a bit nervous. I keep telling er it is no big deal and she will get to spend lots of daddy time, but even last night she got snippy and then cried. All over a music cd she wants. Oh well. We are planning a busy weekend for her so that I can fiish nesting. Talked to my family on the east coast this am - they are all exhausted from their trip back from here.

Better get my day started - lots of laundry - cleaning and baking of dog cookies to get done b4 Monday!

Chat with you all later!

(If I stay busy I won't chicken out!)
Marianne

 

[JudyS]

My hubby seems to not be affected by it all. I would be a nervous wreck if he were having this surgery. Maybe he is and just doesn't show it???
That is sweet that your hubby is acting like he is. Nice to know you are truly loved.

Once again you have to be strong for them. I felt the same way with my kids. I kept saying how it was no big deal. Mostly to my 15 year old son who I know is a lot like me and was worried. He can not stand the site of blood, even one drop. It was unfortunate for him that when they came to give me a transfusion, the family had just arrived.

I am curius about what you put in the dog cookies.
I loved your notes about visiting Alaska. They are priceless!!
Keep busy
Judy

 

[Nursepair]

Marrianne, Don't worry about being in 5 days, I was in for 6 (normal practice at the hospital where I was). I didn't even want to leave until the 5th day, that was only because of the slimey food they kept bringing me!! It was also an hours drive home and I didn't look forward to the journey, but by the 6th day I was ready and the journey wasn't so bad, time the pain meds right and you will sleep most of the way.

It must be hard for you and your daughter. Make sure you leave her a photo of yourself, and take one in of her for your bedside locker. I took photos of all my, kids, hubby, grandaughter and some friends. It really hepled me!!

I will be thinking of you. (((((((((HUGS))))))))))) Sue

 

[AlaskanTKR]

You guys are the best!

Judy-
Ok the dog cookies I made today were molasses, pumpkin, oatmeal, wheatgerm, water and whole wheat flour. We also make peanutbutter and honey ones and also a mean carob chip one! With 3 large dogs it is way more cost effective to make homemade cookies (I make them small)!
Sue-
I know what you mean about the hour drive - we are 45min to an hour out of Anchorage. When I came home from the gall bladder i thought I was going to loose my cookies. I think my little one will be fine. She had practice last month when she stayed in NY for 6 days with my family while I flew back up here. She did really well. And at least this time she has my husband home. I think a lot of her doing so well is that she is so used to Dad being gone for 2 weeks to work. Plus my sister-in-law is halfway between our house and the hospital. I have pictures of her in my Itouch which I will be taking with me. They recommended not bringing the cell phone so I won't have those pics. Fortunately her daddy is here and boy is she a daddy's girl - plus she hasn't been home much this summer and she is really looking forward to sleeping late, being on the computer and playing with some of the kids in the neighborhood. We originally had her going to a science camp but she asked if we could cancel it - so we did. Also - a friend of my hubby's is in town and I think she has a bit of a crush on him and he may be staying a few days with my hubby. Hopefully she will be ok!

OK - Off to dinner and then back to finish the last of the laundry!
MArianne

 

[Sandy R]

Marianne... just in case you don't open my thread again, thank you for posting to it and thank you for your support. I just wanted to let you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. It's great you'll be the first surgery! I'll be looking for your thread to tell us how you're doing.

 

[hess]

Marianne,

Thoughts and prayers will be with you tomorrow AM. You'll do just fine!!
Good luck, Hess

 

[JudyS]

Marianne,
Well in 24 hours you will be on the other side. I suppose you are keeping yourself busy today too.
You are certainly in my thoughts and prayers. Can't wait to hear from you when you get home!!

Good Luck
Judy

 

[Simon]

Marianne

My trip home was 3 hours. The PT told us to stop every hour so that I could get out and walk so I would not be too stiff. What helped was lots of ice and pillows and boxes under the feet -- you will have to find the comfortable position. As other said pain meds also help.

Good luck and soon you will be joining us on the other side

Simon

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Yep - Less than 24 hours and I will one of the new knees on the board! I keep looking at the clock and worrying about how we are going to get this house cleaned up b4 tomorrow am. We went to dinner with my neice last night than grocery shopping! Tried my best to stock the house for the kiddo and hubby. Watched tv with the kids and went to bed. Slept really well and really late - my neice is a big sleeper. Been awake for a little while and have to finish the house stuff -although I should just leave it for the hubby. Heading into Eagle River (30 minutes south) to drop the girls off around 3 and then back for a quiet dinner with th ehubby and puppies. Finish up the last of the bills and stuff then to bed! Sounds relaxing - right? Starting to get nervous and worrying about the beginning of school and driving by 8/13 - but - Its too late now - as the OS said - ready to bite the bullet and get this done - YUP!

OK - less than 24 to go! Thanks for all the encouragement and positive thoughts! Hopefully I can get a connection at the hospital to pass time! If not - I will see you all on the other side late next week!

Mariann

 

[JudyS]

Hi Marianne,
I decided to let the house go as I was to be gone from friday -wed aftn. I figured the 4 of them would have undone any of my effort. It was trashed when I came back so in my case I am glad I had fun instead!!!!

You can't worry about school starting, just get yourself to the hospital and concentrate on you only!!!
Have a relaxing evening
Judy